Razor blade sharpening instrument and razor blade



y 1932- H. DE HAVEN 1,859,556

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENING INSTRUMENT AND RAZOR BLADE Filed June 5. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l v gwwento'z 3391 "/52 (1410mm M WM M- Mary 2- H. DE HAVEN 1,859,556

RAZOR B LADE SHARPENING INSTRUMENT AND RAZOR BLADE Filed June 5, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwemto'z r W y 1932- l H. DE HAVEN 1,859556 RAZOR BLADE SHARPENING INSTRUMENT AND RAZOR BLADE" Filed June 5, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 24, 1932- H. DE HAVEN 1,859,556

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENING INSTRUMENT AND RAZOR BLADE Filed June 5, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 wuemtoz Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTVOFFICE HUGH 1m HAVEN, on NEW Yoax, 1t. Y., nssrenoa, BY mnsnn Assrenmrs, 'ro ma HAVEN RAZOR conroaa'rron, on NEW YORK, N. Y., a conronarron or DELAWARE RAZOR BnaDn-srma-Prmme INSTRUMENT Ann Razor. ZBLADE- Application filed June'5,-1928. Serial No. 282,964.

This invention relates to a safety razor of the type containing a blade and a blade edg ing element mounted on the razor to move in contact with the edge of the blade -for sharpening it.

One of the on the razor and to reciprocate in contact with the blade edge.

Another object of the invention is a blade so constructed that although it has a rigid backing adapted, to be held by the razor, the body portion of the blade is flexible.

Another object of the invention is a blade holder so constructed that the blade may be easily removed therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the combination of the blade holder and the reciprocable blade edging device which are so mounted in the razor that they cooperate in retaining the blade holder in the blade releasing position.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings, and will particularly be pointed out in the claims. I

The drawings illustrate in section, eleva: tion' and detail, a preferred form of con- ,"struction of the blade and the razor and parts thereof and the broad principles of the invention. In the drawings: I

- -Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the razor.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the razor.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the razor.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the head of the razor as-seen from the front with the blade holder in open position. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the blade removed.

showing the blade edging device inextendv I blade holder opened into the position Fig. 6 is alongitudinal section through the razor with the parts in shaving position,

that is, with the blade edging device in retracted or housed position and with the blade holder in closed position. I

Figfl7 is a section similar to Fig; 6, but

ed position. I

objects of the invention is a novel blade edging element to be mounted Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig.6, but showing the blade holder in open position.

Fig. 9 is a section-similar to Fig. 6, but

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the head of the razor with the parts'in shaving position, as 1s shown n Flg. 6.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of thehead of the parts in the position razor with with the shown in Fig. 7 7 Fig. 13 is a plan view of the head of the razor with. the parts in the position shown in Fig. 8.

14 is an elevation ofthe blade.

Flgs. 15, 16, 17 18 and 19 are elevations of various types of blade edging elements which may be used in the razor.

Fig. 20 is. an elevation of a composite blade edging element.

' Figs. 21 and 22. are diagrams illustrating the sharpening of a razorblade.

Fig. 23 is a section on line 23 of Fig. 14. Fig. 24.is similar to Fig. 23, but showing an alternate construction for fastening the body portion of the blade vto the backing.-

Fig. 25 is another form of a composite blade edging element.

-' The general y as a handle 1, a blade holder 2 and a sharpening means 3. The handle may be formed of any suitable material, but is preferably of a non-corrosive or non-rusting ma terial stamped to provide upright portions 4, upper parts 510i which extend outwardly at an angle to the portions 4, and, then again extend upwardly at 6 to form separated arms and to provide, with the associated parts of the razor, a head. The term head is used ,to denote generally the upper part of the razor, including theblade" holder 2.

'The razor is intended to be used for shav- 'ing with the parts in the position shown in .Fig. 6. For sharpening the edge of the blade, the shar ening means is reciprocated from "shown in Fig. 7. For cleaning the razor, the

parts of therazor may be designated shown in Fig. 8, and for easily removing the blade the parts are moved in the position shown in Fig. 9.

The sharpening means includes the blade edging device comprising a plate 7 on which a blade edging element 8 is held. In order to enable the blade edging element to reciprocate in contact with the edge of the blade, the plate is mounted on a stem 9 which is pivoted on a pin 10 in the handle of the razor. The stem 9 is preferably made with two parallel parts 11 between which a link 12 may freely move. The link is'pivotally mounted on a pin 13, which extends between-the arms 4 of the handle, and a pin 14 extends between the parts 11 of the stem and operates'in a slot in the link 12 so as to limit the forward movement of the sharpening means 3. Recesses 15 in each of the parts 11 of the stem permit the stem to move into the retracted position shown in Fig. 6 without interference with the pin 13. In order to prevent binding of. the parts 11 of the stem with the link 12, a washer 16 surrounds the pin 10 and is placed between the parts 11 of the stem to hold them apart so that they do not bind against the link. For the same reason, the ends of the pin 13 are of smaller diameter than the central part thereof to provide shoulders 17 which abut the arms 4 ofthe handle and keep them separated so that they do not bind against the parts 11 of the stem. Thus, the stem easily moves from its retracted position shown in Fig. 6 to its extended position shown in Fig. 7.

The blade edging device, which includes the plate 7 and the blade edgin element 8, is

mounted on the upper part 0 the stem so that it reciprocates with the stem to sharpen the edge of the blade. The forward edge of the plate 7 may be cut to provide guard teeth 18.

In order to obtain an even contact between the edge of the blade and the blade edging element, the blade edging element is' so mounted that it may move toadjust itself on its support for contact with the edge of the blade throughout its entire length. For. this purpose there is a pivotal connection, preferably at a right angle to the front edge of the blade edging element, between the stem and said element. This pivotal connection may be made by providing tabs 19 fastened .to the plate 7 and spaced to enclose between them a bearing 20 on the top of the stem; The bearing is of a size-snuglyto enclose the pivot pin 21 and the tabs have openings through them to receive the pivot pin, the

ends of which are headed over to keep the pin in place and to retain the pivotal connection in assembled relation. For convenience inmanufacturing these parts, the tabs 19 may be stamped out of the plate 7 and the bearing 20 formed by bending the stem around a core at the time the stem is made to form a repeats freely around the pivot pin 21 in order to permit the blade edging-element to adjust itself for even contact with the edge of the blade. The plate 7 is only slightly above the parts 5 of the arms so that the amount of movement of the plate 7 about the pivot pin 21 is limited by the cont-act of the plate with the parts 5 of the arms.

The blade edging element and the blade are also so made, as to permit an even contact between the edge of the blade and the sharpening element. blade edging element is preferably formed so that the surface which is uppermost and which contacts with theedge of the blade when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, is yieldable. blade edging element may have any suitable form and may be mounted on the razor in any suitable manner, so lon as it presents a yieldable surface mounte for reciprocation in contact with the blade, it is preferably formed of 'a piece of resilient material, preferably rust-proof metal, which is so formed as to resent two wing-like members 22 and 23 w ich are substantially parallel and For this purpose the,

Although the i spaced from each other, so that when one of g Y the wing-like members is fastened on the:

plate 7 the other will be free" for yielding" contact with the blade. If the blade edging element is formed from a single piece of ma.- terial, the wings will be connected by the bend 24 and, although the blade edging eleends of the wings will be more resilient than ment will be resilient throughout, the free the portions thereof which are adjacent the tening to the plate 7, a receiver which engages one of the wing-like members to retain the blade edging element-on the support and leave the other wing memberfree to present a sharpening surface for yielding contact 7 with the blade edge. This received may convenient-ly include as parts thereof, a base member 26 intended to be fastened to the plate 7, a retaining member 27 intended to over-lie alower wing 23 of the blade edging I element, and a stop'28 to hold theilower wing of the blade edging element under the retainv ing member 27, and thestop 28 is preferably curved slightly to' assist in holding down the rear portion of the blade edging element.

The-receivermay be made of a single piece of thin resilient material, preferably rustproof metal, so formed that the base member 26 may be soldered to the plate 7 and the retaining member 27 be'nt substantially parallel withthe base member 26, so that it overlies and engages the lower wing-like member 23 of the blade edging element without touching the upper wing-like member of said element. In this way the upper member will be free for yielding contact with the blade edge. With the parts of the receiver thus made the springiness of the retaining member 27 and the stop 28 rigidly hold the lower wing of the blade edging'element against the base member 26 of the receiver on the plate 7, but the blade edging element may be removed by moving it sidewise in the direction of the arrow 29 in Fig. 13 and slipping the lower wing member out from under the retaining member 27 of the receiver. As the wing=like members of the blade edging element are preferably substantially alike in size and shape, either of the members may be inserted in the receiver and the other member used to contact with the blade edge and thus the blade edging element is reversible and'presents two yieldable sharpening surfaces either of which may be used for sharpening the blade edge. The receiver is preferably mounted on the plate with the retaining member 27 next to the guard teeth 18 of the guard plate 7 and with the stop 28 at the rear of the plate, although the receiver may be reversed if desired. However, the receiver is preferably. mounted in the position shown in the drawings so that the free edge ofthe upper wing member, which is the most yieldable part of the blade edging element, is adj acent the guard edge of the plate 7 in order that, as the blade edging element moves from its extended to its retracted position, the portion of the blade edging element which is in contact with the blade edge gradually becomes more yieldable and a gradually diminishing pressure is applied to the edge of the blade as the blade edging element moves against the edge of the blade that is, from the extended position in Fig. 6 to the retracted position in 'Fig. 7 and is most yieldable where the blade edging element moves beyond the edge of the blade and the blade passes off of it. Thus, when the edge of the blade contacts'with the upper surface of the blade edging element, the plate swings on the pin 20 as a pivot and the upper surface of the blade edging element yields to enable an even contact to be made.

The blade, also, is so made that it assists in enabling an even contact between the edge of the blade and the blade edging element to be maintained. The blade comprises a body portion 30 and a backing 31. The body portion of the blade is made of the usual blade material, thatis, material which can be sharpof the blade is preferably of rigid material so that the blade may readily be held in the holder. The body portion of the blade is connected to the backing by connections 32, which may be,-and preferably are, part of the backing, although they may e be relatively flexible. These connections may have flat surfaces for contact with the body portion of theblade, as shown in Fig. 23, or they may have rounded surfaces, as shown in Fig. 24,

so that the body portion of the blade may flex more easily, or one connection may have a fiat surface and the others rounded surfaces or move slightly in the looser connections.

Thus, although the advantages of. a rigid backing. are obtained, the benefits of a yieldable blade 'arealso obtained. The cutting edge 34 of the blade is preferably co-extensive with the guardteeth 18 and the blade edging element is of such a size and so positioned that no portion of thecutting edge of the blade passesofi of the side edges 35 of the element when. the blade is being sharpened. The sides of the blade are preferably extended slightly at 36 adjacent the cutting edge, to provide guard projections which are blunt until they reach the point 37, where they join the cutting edge ofthe blade.

Several of the blade edging elements which may be used in the razor are shown in Figs. 15-19v inclusive. In some instances it is desirable to have the upper surface of the blade edging element curved so that the edge of the blade is hollow ground, to give a concave edge, while in other instances it may be desirable to have. the edge sharpened on a flat surface to give a substantially flat, or'a convex edge. Therefore, the wings of the blade edging element may be so formed that one surface is curved and the other surface is flat, as is shown in Fig. 15. The curved surface may, if desired, have such a curvature that when the blade edging element is in position on the razor the surface is curved concentrically with the pin'10 about which the stem ,9 recipmembers of the blade edging element be of ro'cates. It is not necessary that both wing resilient material, although both wing members preferably are of such resilient material. If a blade edging element is used which. has

one curved surface and one flat surface, the

curved surface is preferably always of resillent material, so that when the flat surface is to be used in contact with the edge of the blade, the curved surface can flatten itself out when it is slid into its receiver by means 2.5 edge of the blade edging element on Fig. 18.

' ished, as is shown in Fig. 15, or may have elongated indentations 38 therein, which may of which the blade edging elementis held in position on the razor. However, this is not necessary if a rigid surface is desired, because the retaining member 27 of the receiver is preferably resilient to receive either a curved or a flat wing of the sharpening element. In addition to having one of the wing members of the blade edging element curved and the other wing member fiat, it may be'desirable to have both wing members flat, as is shown in Figs. 16, 1.7 and 18, or both wing members curved, as is shown in Fig. 19. The surface of any wing member ,may-be'smoothly pollie at angle to the direction of reciprocation, as is shown in Figs. 16, 17 and/18, or-maybe sand blasted, as indicated at 39 in Fig. 19 to provide small irregular indentations. For purposes of illustration, these elongated indentations are shown extending diagonally across the surface of the blade edging element in one direction onFig. 16, and in another direction on Fig. 17, and parallel to the long The indentations may be superimposed, if desired, in any combination, that is, a surface may have diagonal indentations lying at both the angles shown in Figs. 16 and 17 ,or-the surface may have diagonal indentations combined with the parallel indentations shown in Fig. 18. The indentations serve to receive and hold the sharpening compound, which may, if desired, be spread on the surface, and the indentations also roughen the surface to some extent, if this be desirable. Instead of,

or inaddition to, the elongated indentations shown in Figs. 15 to 18, the surface may, if

desired, be somewhat roughened by sand blasting or other suitable means, as is. indicated in Fig. 19. The indentations serve to break off the wire which is formed on the ed e of the blade. If it is desired-to have both sides of the blade edging element in-' dented to hold the sharpening material, the

indentations on-one surface may. be deeper than the indentations on the other surface, or there may be more of the indentations on the one surface than on the other toprovidesurfaces having different degrees of roughness. Furthermore, it may be desirable to have the surface of the blade edging element made of a relatively soft material, such as lead, solder, Babbitt metal or other soft metal or alloy, to assist in breaking ofl the wire which is formed on the edge of the blade. It should be understood, however, that the material is not so soft as leather or similar materials upon which the edge of the blade cannot move with a honing movement without cutting into the material. When the surface of the blade edging element is thus made, for instance of Babbitt metal, the wire which is formed on the edge of the blade is caught by the soft metal and broken off leaving a clean edge on the blade which may be saidto be the true edge as distinguished from an edge which has a may be curved or fiat as previously stated.

The soft metal may be applied to the winglike members in any suitable way, including plating. If the soft metal is plated on the wing-like members the conditions in the plating bath may be 'so arranged that the upper surface of the soft metal is either smooth or somewhat. granular, the granular surface giv ing a series of small irregular indentations to provide the substantial equivalent of the" above described sandblasted surface. It will thus be understood that byusing sharpening elements, either smooth or indented, or curved F or flat, the sharpening surfaces may have many different sharpening characteristics.

When the edge'of a blade is ground for a considerable length of time, a wire may formed in front of the true edge of the blade which, although it may be extremely thin and delicate, may be sufficient to prevent the true edge from coming in contact with the beard of the shaver and' giving a smooth clean shave- This wire edge maybe broken,

off mechanically, as by rubbing the edge of the blade on the hand, or it maybe broken 01f during shaving, but. it is desirable to break off the wire edge in the razor and then sli htly grind the true edge so that it is exce dinglysharp, before the razor is used.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 21 and 22, it will be understood that when a blade is sharpened by moving the. blade edging element between the positions shown in Fig. 21

and Fig. 22 for a considerable number of reclprocations, a w1re 41, such as is shown in greatly enlarged dimensions in Fig. 21, is

formed, the size of the wire being, of course, determined by the amount of grinding down of the blade. v

The sharpening of'a blade edge and the formation and removal of the wire on the edge and the action of the blade edging ele- .ment on the blade will be described in the case where. a flat or other blade edging element is used and so mounted as to give such a rocking movement to theiblade that a convex edge is formed. When such a blade of the blade edging element is-substantially as shown in Fig. 21, that is, the true edge 42 ward edge of the blade edging element into.

the position shown in Fig. 6, the relation between the edge of the blade and the blade edging element is substantially as shown in Fig. 22 with the true edge 42 of the blade in contact with the surface of the blade edging element. Thus, the' edge of the blade is rocked as the blade edging element movesbetween the positions shown in Figs. 21 and sufficiently sharpened .on one side, during which the lower convex edge; and wire are formed and the wire 41 is in the position shown irrfull lines in Fig. 21, that is, the wire extends as a continuation of the side43 of the edge which is in contact with the'blade edging element, the blade is turned over so that the other side 44 of the blade is against the blade edgingelement with the wire projecting downwardly toward-the surface of the blade edging element as is-indicated at 45 in dotted lines and the blade is lowered against the blade edging element while the blade edging element is in extended or forward position as shown in Fig. 21. Thus, the true edge 42 of the blade does not contact with the surface of the blade edgin element, but contact between the blade -e ging element and the blade ismade at a oint 46 which, ordinarily considered, wou d be a portion of theedge of the blade but which, actually, is some distance in back of the true edge. is moved from its position shown in Figs. 7 and 21 to its position shown in Figs. 6 and 22, the forward edge of the blade edging element rises toward the true edge of the blade,

as it moves backward from its extended po sition shown in Fighs. 7 and 21 to its retracted position shown in 'gs.-6 and 22 and as the blade edging element rises, the edge of the wire 41 on the blade rubs against the surface of the blade edging element and is bent backwardly and broken off exposing the true edge, after which the blade edging. element con tinues on its movement from the position shown in Figs. 7 and 21 to the positions shown in Figs. 6 and 22, whereby the true cutting edge of the blade is slightly ground and polished. This gives an exceedingly sharp, clean, true edge on the blade. The

Then when the blade edging element f the blade edging material. If, therefore, the

blade is sharpened in the razor on one side so much that a good shave cannot be obtained, due to the-fact that awire edge hasbeen formed, it is only necessary to turn the blade over so that the other Side of the blade is next to the blade edging element, then lower the blade on the blade edging element while the latter is in its extended position and then reciprocate theblade edging element once or twice to break off the wire starting with the movement of' the blade edging element against the edge of the blade, that is, moving the blade edging element from its extended position shown in Figs. 7 and 21 to its retracted position shown' in Figs. 6 and22, and thus obtain a sharp true edge on the blade. The layer of soft metal on the surfa-ceof theblade edging element assists in breaking off the wire because the soft metal seems to have a dragging effect on the wire and tends to bend the wire backward and break it away from the true edge. dentations also assist inthis because the edge of the wire gets into the indentations as the blade edging element moves from the position The in- N shown in Fig. 21 to the position shown in Fig. 22. If the indentations are in a soft .metal plate, there is more tendency for the edges. of the wire to catch in the indentations and break off than if the indentations are in hard metal surface where the tendency of the indentations is more to bend the edges of the wire back and then let the edge of the blade, with the bent back wire, slide over the plate as it reciprocates.

After the wire is broken off it may be de-' sirable to polish the true edge againsta harder surface and for this purpose the arrangement shown in -Fig. 25 may be used. In this case the soft metal layer 40 ends at some distance in back of the front "edge of the wing the wing proper provides the hard material.

The thickness of the layer of soft metal is preferably decreased at the front so that the edge of the blade passes smoothly from the soft metal onto the hard metal.

The blade is held in the blade holder denoted generally at 2. The parts of the blade holder are so arranged that they contact only with the backing 31 and the connecting parts 32 of the blade so that the body portion of the blade does not contact with the blade holder and the flexibility of the body portion of the blade is, therefore, unimpaired. The partsof the blade holder are also so constructed 30 49 and 50. Thus, the blade is securely held in the blade holder by the action of the proii that they hold the blade firmly in the holder when the holder is in closed or open position,

' but release the blade when the holder is in intermediate position, as shown in Fig. 9. In the preferred construction of the blade holder the front part 47 of the holder is provided with a projecting portion which bears a ainst beveled ends 48 of the parts 32 of the lade.

pingpart 50 of the blade holder can be slightly curved to lie in front of the backing and hold it seated between the gripping parts. A spring 52, which may be struck up from the back of the blade holder which joins the projection 47 with the gripping parts 49 and 50,

en ages the backing 31 of the blade and ho ds it against the lip 51. The spring 52 may be, and preferably is, of such a length that it contacts with the front of the backing 31 so-that, in addition to holdin the backing against the lip 51, it also holds the backing in its seated position between the gripping parts jection 47 on the beveled parts .48 of the connecting parts 32 of the backing and, also, by

the gripping parts 49 and 50'ofthe holder,

the lip 51 and the sprin 52.

In order to enable t e blade easily to be removed from the blade holder, means are Iii provided for spreading the gripping parts 49 and of the blade holder. For this purpose advantage is taken of the fact that the means by which the blade holder is mounted on the razor may be so formed as to'spread the gripping parts to release the blade. The blade holder is mounted on arod 53, which extends across the head of the razor between the arms. 6 and has squared ends 54 which prevent the turning of the rod. The blade holder has bearing parts 55 and 56 which contact with the rod 53 and the-top of the blade holder extends from the pro ection 47 to provide another bearing part 57 so positioned that the bearing parts 55,56 and 57 bear against the rod 53 to hold the blade holder on the rod and to permit it to be swung into any of the positions shown in Fig. 6, 8 and 9. The rod-53 is provided with around part 58 and a flat art 59 so positioned with relation to the bearing parts 55 56 and 57 of the blade holder, that-when the blade holder is either in the closed position as shown in Fig. 6, or in the open position as shown in Fig. 8, the bearing parts are in their position of least ten-' sion, and when the blade holder is in the position shown in Fig. 9 the bearing part 57 of the blade holder is spread its greatest distance from the bearing parts55 and 56 and the parts 55, 56 and 57 are spread to the fullest extent and are in their position of greatest tension. The spreading of thebearing parts 55, 56 and 57 of the blade holder, as is shown in Fig. 9, causes the spreading of the gripping parts-49 and 50 of the blade holder and releases the gripping action of these parts on the backing 31 of the blade, and as the gripping parts 49 and 50 are spread the spring 52 is also removed from contact with the backing. The blade, therefore, as is shown in Fig. 9, is held in the blade holder only by the contact of the projection 47 with the beveled parts 48 of the connecting part 32 of the backing, and by the lip 51. The spread of the gripping parts 49 and 50 is preferably sufiicient to cause the blade to be only loosely held when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 9, so that the blade may easily be removed by sliding it sidewise out of the blade holder, but yet the lip 51 encircles the backing 31 of the blade to such an extent that the blade cannot fall out of the blade holder in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the blade, because the spring 52 is not Withdrawn far enough from the backing to permit the backing to ride over the end of the lip 51 without pressing against the spring 52; in other words, with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 9, the blade may easily be removed from the holder by movement in the dirction of the arrow 60 on Fig. 4, but cannot fall out of the holder in the direction of the arrow 61 on Fig. 9. V

The forward edges 62 of the portions 6 of the arms are so curved and positioned with relation to the blade holder and rod 53 that when the blade holder is in its closed posisidewise direction when the blade holder is in either of these two positions; but when the blade holder is in its intermediate or blade releasing position the edge 62 is on a level with or slightly below the backing 31 so that the blade may easily be removed sidewise in 'the direction of the arrow 60 on Fig. 4.

To prevent the backing 31 of the blade and'the connections 32 from catching on the portions 6 of the arms or the spring 52 when the blade is removed from the blade holder,

the ends63 of the backing are curved so that is not lifted from all contact with the backm 9, the connections may easily wedge under the spring when the blade is being inserted into the blade holder or is being removed therefrom.

The bearing parts 55, 56 and 57 of the blade holder also act as a spring to hold the blade down against the blade edging element. When the parts are in the posltion shown in Figs. 6 and the bearing parts 55 and 56 are bearing on the round surface 58 of the rod 53 and the tendency of the bearing part v57 of the blade holder is to move into such a position that it lies fiat against the flat surface 59 of the rod. This gives a spring action tending to force the blade holder downblade in the shaving position shown-in Fig.

6, and prevent its turning up during shaving and also to hold the sharpening device in retracted position shown in Fig. 6.

The bearing parts of the blade holder also cooperate with the supporting rod to retain the blade holder in open position. For this pur ose the bearing part of the blade hol er is purposely made flat and is so posi.

tioned with relation to the flat part 59 of the rod 53 that when the blade holder is in open position, as shown in Fig. 8, the bearing part 55 lies flat against the flat part 59 of the rod and the springaction is suflicient to retain the blade holder rather firmly in that posi tion.

The parts of the razor are also so arranged that the blade holder may easily be moved to and retained in its intermediate or blade releasing position. The upper part of the blade holder is provided with a finger piece. 66 which extends from the bearing part 57,

for instance, the curved end 67 thereof, contacts with some portion of the reciprocal blade edging device to hold it in extended position, as is shown in Fig. 8. In this position the blade edging element may easily be removed and the entire razor may easily be cleaned. The angle of the finger piece is also so arranged that by forcing the stem 9 and blade edging device into their retracted or housed position within the handle, the blade holder is moved into its intermediate or blade releasing position, as shown in Fig. 9. So long as the stemis held in its housed or retracted position the blade holder will remain in its intermediate or blade releasing position because the bearing parts 56 and 57 bear on the rounded part 58 and the rod and the bearing part 55 bears on theedge where the curved part 58 of the rod 53 joins the flat part- 59 of the rod and the tendency of the blade holder is to move from the position shown in Fig. 9 into the'fully open position shown in Fig. 8, in which the flat bearing part 55' of the blade holder lies directly against the fiat surface 59 of the rod. Thus,

in order to release the blade from the blade holder, it is only necessary for the user to press down on the finger piece 66 to snap the blade holder into its open position and then grasp the handle and stem and s ueeze them until the stem is retracted substantially into its housed position, when the blade holder will be in intermediate or blade releasing position. In order to align of the blade and to position the guard properly in front of the cutting edge of the blade, projections 68 are provided to abut some portion of the handle. These projections ma conveniently be lugs struck from the plate and turned down so that they strike the upper parts 5 of the handle. The blade holder has a definite fixed position with relation to the handle because it is mounted on the rod 53, which is fastened to the handle, and, therefore, the cutting edge of the blade has a definite fixed position with relation to the handle. Therefore, if the projections 68 are positioned as shown they will abut the parts 5 of'the'handle, and align the guard teeth parallel to the cutting edge of the blade and, also, positionthe guard teeth so that they protect the edge of the blade just enough to give the desire contact between the cutting edge of the blade and the skin of the person who is using the razor.

The parts of therazor are held together by one or more rivets 69 and the pins 10 and 13 which are headed over at 70 and 71. The heading over of the pivot pins at 70 and 71 makesthe upper part of the handle very rigid and forces the arms'6 toward each otherso that they securely hold the rod 53 in position. By means of the washers 16 and 17 the parts are so spaced that the stem 9 and the link 12 move quite easily and the round part.

58 of the rod is cut away 'to provide the squared ends 54 at such a 'point'that the shoulders thus formed serve to space properly the u per ends of the arms 6. A spacing member ifl separates the arms .4 at the bottom of the handle to give the correct spacing and, also, to fill in the lower part of the the guard'with the edge handle so as to provide a solid gripping portion. The exposed surfaces of the spacing member 72 are roughened in any suitable manner, as by the grooves shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 10,-to give a firm grip, because the blade edging device is intended to be recipro- The entire razor, with the exception of the.

blade, is preferably made of rust-proof material. The blade, as previously stated, is of suitable material, the body portion of the 9 blade being made of razor steel which will hold an edge but which is thin enough to render the blade flexible, and the backing of the blade being made of fairly rigid nonrusting material.

I claim: 1. A razor including a blade having a body portion and a backing thicker than the body portion, a guard for the edge of the blade, a blade holder movable from a-elosed posi-. tion to an open position and having gripping parts to enclose and engage said backing, and means to cause said gripping parts to release their grip on said backing to permit removal of the blade from the blade holder. 2. A razor including a blade having a body portion and a backing spaced from said body portion but firmly gripping the body portion at one or more spaced points, and a blade holder adapted to hold the blade by gripping only said backing.

3. A razor adapted for use with a removable blade, including a handle, a blade holder movable between closed, intermediate and open positions and having parts to grip the blade, and supporting means to support the holder on the handle, the holder and supthe holder is in intermediate position the grip of the holder on the blade is released to ermitthe removal of the blade from the older.

4. A razor adapted for use with a removable blade, including a blade holder movable between closed, intermediate and open positions and having parts to grip the blade, and means to cause said parts to release their grip on the blade in intermediate position to permit removal of the blade. v

5. A razor adapted for use with a removable blade, including a blade holder movable into a blade releasing position, a movable blade sharpening device arranged to retain the holder in the blade releasing position.

osition the 6. A razor adapted for use with a removable blade, including a blade holder movable into a blade releasing position, a movable blade sharpening device arranged to contact with said blade holder and to retain the holder in blade releasing position. a

7 A razor adapted for use with a removable blade, including a handle, a blade holder mounted on' the handle and movable from a blade gripping position to a blade releasing position, and a blade sharpening device movable from an extended position to a housed position within the handle and adapted when in housed position to retain the holder in the blade releasing position.

8. A razor adapted for use with a blade having a gripping portion, including a'blade holder movable between closed, intermediate and open positions and having gripping parts to yieldingly engage said gripping portion to prevent the blade from falling out i of the holder in a direction substantially perpendieular to the shaving edge of the blade,

and means to cause said gripping parts to release their grip on the blade when in intermediate position to enable the, blade to be removed from the side of the holder.

9. A razor adapted for use with a blade having an enlarged gripping portion, including a guard for the edge of the blade, a blade holdermovable from a closed position to an open position and having gripping parts to means for contact with said edge andoperagle upon shaking the razorv to sharpen the e ge.

12. A razor comprising ablade' holder, a razor blade-in said holder, a guard plate arranged belowsaid blade and movable .withrespect thereto, and a yieldable bladeedging element on the the blade.

13. A razor including a handle, a guard plate on the handle and a yieldable blade edging element on said guard plate. v

14. A razc-r includ'ng a handle, a guard plate on the handle and having a guard edge, and a yieldable blade edging element on 'said guard plate, said blade edging element being most yieldable adjacentthe said guard-edge.

15. A- razor including a blade and a yield- 1 able blade edging element mounted for movement against and beyond the edge of the blade and in contact therewith, said blade edging element being most yieldable where the blade passes off of it.

guard plate in contact with 11 aaaaate 16. A razor including a blade, and a yieldable blade edging element mounted for reciprocation in contact with the edge of the blade and including a pair of spaced winglike members'presenting a layer of relatively softv metal for contact with the edge of the blade.

17. A razor including a blade holder, a yieldable blade edging element mounted for reciprocation in contact with the edge of the blade, said blade edging element being more yieldable at one part thereof than at another.

18. A razor including a blade having a flexible body presenting a cutting edge, and a yieldable blade edging element for contact with said cutting .edge and reciprocable in contact therewith.

19. A razor including a blade having a flexible body presenting a cutting edge and a backing separated from said body but connected thereto at spaced points to permit said cutting edge to remain flexible, a blade holder adapted to hold the blade in the razor by engagement with the backing, and a yieldable blade edging element mounted on the razor for reciprocation in contact with said cutting ed e.

50. A razor includin a blade having a cut ting edge, a blade hol er, a reversible blade edging element having two sharpening surfaces, a reciprocable support for said blade edging element, and means for removably retaining the element on the support so that said element may be reversed to permit either of said surfaces to contact with the blade edge.

21. A razor includin a blade having a cutting edge, a blade hol er, a reversible blade edging element having two yieldable sharpening surfaces, a reciproca le support for said blade ed ing element, and means for removably retaining the element on the support so that said element may be reversed to permit either of said surfaces to contact with the blade edge.

22. A razor including a blade having a cutting edge, a blade holder, a blade ed mg element having a pair of wing-like mem ers presenting sharpening surfaces, a reciprocable support for said blade edging element, and means for engaging one of said winglike-membersto retain saidielement on the support.

23. A razor including a blade having a cutting edge, a blade holder, a blade edging element having a pair of yieldable wing-like members presenting sharpening surfaces, a reciprocable support for said blade edging element, and means for engaging one of said wing-like members to retain said element on presenting its sharpening sur ace for yieldable contact with the blade edge.

24. A razor includin a blade having a cutting edge, a blade hol er, a reversible blade ting edge,

ment on the support.

V 25. A razor including a blade having a cutting edge, a blade holder, a blade edging element having a pair of spaced Wing-like members presenting sharpening surfaces, a reciprocable support for said blade edging ele- I ment and means for rigidly and removably holding one of said wing-like members to retain said element on the support and leave the other wing-like member free to present its sharpening surface for contact with the blade edge.

26. A razor including a blade having a cutting edge, a blade holder, a blade edging element having a pair of Wing-like members presenting sharpening surfaces, a reciprocable support for said blade edging element, and means connected to said support to over-lie one of said members to hold said member against the support to retain said element on the support.

27. A razor including a blade having a cutting edge, a blade holder, a blade edging element having a pair of spaced wing-like members presenting sharpening surfaces, a reciprocable support for said blade edging element, and means connected to said support to fit between said members and over-lie one of said members to hold said member against the support to retain said element on the sup port.

28. A razor including a blade having a cutting edge, a blade holder, a blade edging element having a pair of yieldable spaced winglike members presenting sharpening surfaces,

a reciprocable support for said blade edging element, and means connected to said support 'to fit between said members and over-lie and ening surfaces, a reciprocable support for said blade edging element, and means for removably retaining the element on the support so that either of said surfaces may contact with the blade edge. 1

30. A razor including a blade having a cutting edge, a blade holder, a blade edging element adapted to contact with said blade edge,

a'reciprocable support for said blade edging the support with the other win -like member element;sa1d blade edging element having a plurality of sharpening'surfaces any of whlch may contact with said bladecedg 31. A razor including a blade'having a, cuta blade holder, 2. blade edging element adapted to contact with said blade edge, a. reeiprocable support for said blade edging element, said blade edging element being removably mounted on said support and hav ing two sharpening surfaces either of which may contact with said blade edge.

32. A razor includin a blade having a cutting edge, a blade ho der, a blade edging element adapted to contact with said blade edge, a reciprocable support for said blade edging element, said blade edging element being reversibly mounted on said support and having two sharpening surfaces either of which may contact with said blade edge.

33. A razor including a blade having a cutting edge, a blade holder, a blade edging element adapted to contact with said blade edge, a reciprocable'su port for said blade edging element, said blac e edging element having a plurality of sharpening surfaces of different sharpenin characteristics which may contact with said lade edge.

34. A razor including ting edge, a blade holder, a blade edging element adapted to contact with said blade edge, a reciprocable support for said blade edging element, said blade edging element having a plurality of sharpening surfaces of different cgrvature which may contact with said blade e ge.

35. A razor including a blade having a cutting edge, a blade holder, a blade edging elementadapted to contact with said blade ed e,-

a reciprocable support forsaid blade e ging element, said blade ed 'ng element having a fiat sharpening sur ace and a curved I sharpening surface elther of which may contact with said blade edge.

36. A razor including a blade having a cutting ed e, a blade holder, a blade edging element a apted to contact with said blade edge, a reciprocable support for said blade edging element, said blade edging element having a plurality of surfaces of different de rees of rgughness which may contact with said blade e A razor including a blade having a cutting edge, a blade holder, a blade edging element adapted to contact with'said blade edge, a reciprocable support for said blade edging element, said blade ed 'ng element having a plurality of elon atedj indentations on the surface thereof w ich is adapted to contact with said blade edge.

*38. A razor including a blade having a cutting ed e, a blade holder, a blade edging element a apted to contact with said blade edge, a reciprocable support for said blade edging element, said bla 0 ed ing element having a plurality of elon ate indentations on the surface thereof w ich is adapted to contact with said blade edge and lying at an angle to the direction of reciprocation.

39; A razor including a blade having a cutting edge, a blade holder, a blade edglng elea blade having a cuta reciprocable support for said blade edging element, said blade edging element having a plurality of sharpening surfaces adapted to contact with said bladeedge and each surface having thereon a plurality of elongated indentations which lie at different angles to the direction of reciprocation when the sur-- face contacts with the blade ed e.

40. A razor including a blade havin g a cutting ed e, a blade holder, a blade edging element a apted to contact with said blade edge, a reciprocable support for said blade edging element, said blade edging element having aplurality of sharpening surfaces which may contact with said'blade edge each surface i having thereon a plurality of indentations, said indentations being more numerous on one surface than on another. 1

41. A razor including a blade havin a cutting edge, ablade holder, a blade edging element'adapted to contact with said blade edge, a reciprocable support for said blad. edging element, said blade edging element having a plurality of sharpening surfaces which may contact with said blade edge, each surface having thereon a plurality of indentations which are deeper on one surface than. on another.

42. A razor including a blade having a cutting edge, a blade holder, a blade edging element adapted to contact with said blade edge, a support for said blade-edging element pivoted in such a way as to be reciprocable, said blade edging element having a flat sharpening surface and a sharpening surface curved concentrically with the pivot of said support either of which surfaces may contact with the blade edge. I

43. A razor blade sharpening instrument including a blade holder and a blade edging element reciproc-able upon shaking the instrument and .means for'mounting the blade edging element on the instrument to permit even contact between the edge of the blade and said element. f

44. A razor blade sharpening instrument including a blade holder, a blade edging element 'reciprocable upon shaking the instrument and capable of movement to permit even contact between the edge of the blade and iao element to adjust itself for even contact with the edge of the blade.

46. A razor blade sharpening instrument including a blade holder, a reciprocable, blade edging element, and a support for said element to which said element is movably connected to permit said element to adjust itself for even contact with the edge of the blade throughout its entire length.

47. A razor blade sharpening instrument including a blade holder, a reciprocable blade edging element, a stem for supporting said element, and pivotal connections between said element and said stem whereby said element may adjust itself for even contact with the edge of the blade.

48. A razor blade sharpening instrument including a blade holder, a reciprocable blade edging element having an edge normally parallel to the edge of the blade, a stem to support said element, and pivotal connections between said stem and said element and at a right angle to the edge of said element whereby said element may adjust itself with. relation to the stem and to the edge of the blade for even contact with the edge of the blade.

49. A razor blade having a body portion and a backing spaced from said body portion, the body portion and the backing being firmly connected at relatively small areas whereby the blade may be firmly held in a razor but the body portion of the blade'may flex on the sides of the said small areas.

50. A razor blade having a flexible body portion presenting a cutting edge and a rigid" backing spaced from said body portion, the

body portion and the backing being firmly connected at relatively small areas whereby the blade may be firmly held in a razor but the body portion of the blade may readily 51. A razor blade having a body portion and a backing thicker than the body portion and spaced therefrom, the body portion and the backing being firmly connected at relatively small areas whereby the blade may be firmly held in a razor but the body ortion sharpening device to abut the handle adjacent the ends of the sharpening device to align the guard with the blade edge.

56. A razor including a blade having a cutting edge, a handle, means to hold the blade on the handle, a blade sharpening device reciprocable with relation to the blade edge and mounted on the handle and presenting a guard, and members projecting from the sharpening device near its ends in position to abut the handle to align the guard with the blade edge.

57. A razor including a blade having a cutting edge, a handle, means to hold the blade on the handle, a blade sharpening device reciprocable with relation to the blade edge and mounted on the handle and presenting a guard, and members projecting beneath the sharpening device near its ends in position to abut the handle to align the guard-with the blade edge. 58. A razor blade having a cutting edge and an enlarged rear portion adapted to be gripped by a blade holder, the enlarged portion being pointed at both ends to facilitate insertion in the blade holder.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this'25 day of May, 1928. v

HUGH DE HAVEN.

of the blade may flex on the sides of t c said small areas.

52. A razor blade having a body portion and a backing spaced fr'm the body portion and connecting arms extending 'from the backing and firmly gripping the body portion-at relatively small spaced areas.

53. A razor blade having a body portion.

and a backing spaced from the bod portion and connecting arms extending rom the backing embracing the body ortionv and firmly gripping the body portlon at relatively small spaced areas.

54. A razor blade having a body portion and a backing spaced from the body portion and connecting arms extending from the backing and firmly gripping the body portion at relatively small'spaced areas, the sides of the connecting arms being bevelled.

55. A razor, including a blade having a cutting edge, a handle, means to hold the blade on the handle, a blade sharpening device reciprocable with relation to the blade edge and mounted on the handle and presenting a guard, and means connected to said 

